Spire Mountain Draft Cider Dark & Dry: Review

Fish Brewing Company

Olympia, Washington, USA

Spiremoutaincider.com

5% abv

12oz bottle

$13.99 Six pack

Apple Cider

Appearance: rich copper body with plenty of bubbles – no head

Aroma: fresh sweet apple

Flavor: liquid apple sauce

Mouthfeel: somewhat dry or do you call it semi-dry; refreshing; light

To the Point: a tasty ‘dark & dry’ cider; very simple, refreshing and pleasing to the palate on a hot summer day; is it worth 14 bucks a six pack?  Maybe - if you love hard ciders

Angry Orchard Strawman: Review

Angry Orchard Cider Company

Hammondsport, New York, USA

AngryOrchard.com

10% abv

750ml Bottle

$13.99 from Westborn

Farmhouse Hard Cider

Interesting – I thought Angry Orchard was from Cincinnati, Ohio; now it is from New York?; Oh, it is from the Boston Beer Company who make Samuel Adams – now it all makes sense.  But, how did they get to New York?  I am not an insider so I don’t know.

The packaging (bottle) is just great on both the Ice Man and Strawman.  If you see it buy it.  

Appearance: shiny crystal amber body with plenty of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass like sparkling wine

Aroma: wet wood; earthy; baked apples

Flavors: the oak wood aging comes through; bitter apple with just a hint of sweet apple; nice touch of citrus on the back – reminds me of lemon meat; the citrus note builds with each sip;

Mouthfeel: Sweet for a second; bitter right after; citrus bite; very acidotic; can I say astringency without being redundant after saying acidotic; sharp on the palate; lingering bitter apple and oak on the aftertaste; very carbonated like a sparkling wine; has a medium to medium-full body; I would say a medium-full body for a cider;

To the Point: be careful, easy to drink with a 10% abv; I really like this hard cider; pair with a good cigar or sharp cheese; I smoked two fine cigars with this bottle and it was great; I’ll buy this again; IPA lovers should try this hard cider; 

North Peak Nomad Dry Hard Cider: Review

North Peak Brewing Company

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

6% abv

12oz stubby brown bottles

$13.99 a six pack

Bottle Date: Nov1612 Batch 4

Apple Cider

Appearance: pale straw or pear water

Aroma: you can smell this when you open the cap; apple and pear like nose

Flavors: sour/tart apple; to me I can taste the stainless tanks – it has an industrial taste

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation adds a very fine fizzy feel; tart apple lingers on the palate; very dry; not refreshing in my book;

To the Point: to me it is not the most pleasing cider out there and at 14 bucks a six pack – I’ll skip this one.  I sure hope my wife likes this one even just a little bit – she can have the other four bottles –

Angry Orchard Iceman Hard Cider: Review

Angry Orchard Cider Company

Hammondsport, New York, USA

10% abv

750ml bottle

$13.99 a bottle

Apple wine produced from apple juice concentrate frozen post-harvest.  It sounds like they make in the fashion of ‘ice wine’.  You wait till the grapes are frozen and then extract the grape juice - to make ice wine.  From what I can figure reading this bottle is that they freeze the apples and then extract the apple juice and then blend it with some other fresh apples. 

July and August I am doing beers around the world but, I am going to end the month of July by reviewing a few Hard Ciders - why you ask - because I want to.  

Appearance: crystal golden body, a few bubbles float to the top

Aroma: rich sweet apple; not much else

Flavors: oh this is nice; apple, summer fruit, dark caramel,

Mouthfeel: sweet up front, light tart on the back and aftertaste, low-to-no carbonation, light syrupy feel, feels like a “Late Harvest” wine, medium-full body for a hard cider, has some complexity and as far as ciders go this would be really complex

To the Point: I really like this cider; has a little complexity to it and a dessert wine style; I would buy this again and serve it as an after dinner drink. 

Bohemia Regent Prezident: Review

Svetly Special

Czech Beer

Bohemia Regent

Trebon, Czech Republic

6% abv

16.9oz

500ml

1pt .9oz bottle

3 bucks

I’ll bet this bottle is old.  I can’t find a date on the bottle or label.

Appearance: somewhat hazy maze color that poured a whopping ½ finger head with an aggressive pour and that was gone by the time the bottle hit the table

Aroma: grainy, very lager like, not Czech lager like (interesting), sweet bread

Flavors: earthy grains, fruity – reminding me of an apricot/orange blend, smooth carbonation, smooth feel,

To the Point: I would like to taste this beer knowing the age; if this is old – I am impressed and I’ll bet when it’s fresh it is very good.  If this is ‘fresh’ it is pretty good.  But, I got it for the bottle cap to put on my wall up north – only 38 caps to go to have 600 different caps around the stud work on my shed door.  

Skull Splitter: Review

The Orkney Brewery Quoyloo

Orkney, United Kingdom, Scotland

“5000 Years in the Making”

8.5% abv

11.2 oz bottle

$3.39 bottle

Lager Mill in Frankenmuth Michigan

Appearance: amber-brown body; somewhat cloudy or murky; one finger light tan head; some lacing

Aroma: Rich caramel malts and grains; dark fruits – fig like

Flavors: Rich malts, toasted grains, molasses, candied dark fruits

Mouthfeel: mild carbonation, smooth feel,

To the Point: this is the only Skull Splitter I have had … I would like to try it again. It is pretty damn good - I'll give it an A or A- on this try.   

Newcastle Bombshell: Review

Caledonian Brewery Company

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Scotland

The One and Only

A Real British Beauty

Pale Blonde Ale

English Pale Ale Style

4.4% abv

Appearance: clear light-medium golden body with a one finger white head that leaves some lacing behind.

Aroma: light breadiness and delicate hops

Flavors: crisp lightly toasted grains that remind me of toasted buttered white bread; fine mild hops that add a slight bitterness; while the flavors are non-descript and it is a rather simple toasted lager it is tasty. 

Mouthfeel: lively carbonation, crisp, light toasted feel on the taste and aftertaste; light-medium body

To the Point: while not a lot of fun to review (not reviewogenic), it is easy and refreshing – tasty for a toasted lager or Pale Blonde; I would buy this again when I want a plain beer with a little flavor.  

New Castle Founders’ Ale: Review

Pale Ale

Thomas Hardy Burtonwood Limited

Burtonwood, United Kingdom

4.8% abv

On the bottle: “Founders’ is a pale ale with a dry hoppy flavour and aroma.  It is sweet rather than bitter, with a clean short finish.”

Appearance: shiny crystal copper body with a thin eggshell colored head that leaves very little lacing

Aroma: clean aroma, dry white toast, not much else

Flavors: okay, I’ll buy their description ‘dry hoppy flavour’ – a light grassy dry hops, light caramel, toasted white bread

Mouthfeel: Yes it is clean and short on the aftertaste, moderate carbonation,

To the Point: they are correct and honest in their description.  How many times a company says, ‘full bodied, big time hops or malts, triple hopped’  … sure, sure, sure … you buy it and try it and it tastes light bodied and thin on the flavor side. 

If you want simple, fairly clean, light on the flavors, easy to drink, and personally it is not that bad tasting - then this is for you.  Average  

St. Bernardus Pater 6: Review

Br. St. Bernard

Watou, Belgium

Abbey Ale

6.7% abv

330ml bottle

I have never reviewed the Pater 6.  I have reviewed the St. Bernardus 8, 12 and Tripel.

Appearance: ruddy brown body with a light tan 1-1/2 finger head; spotty lacing

Aroma: dark bread, dark fruit, light overall, builds character as the ale warms

Flavors: dark fruit – raisin like; pumpernickel with a little rye swirl; touch of spice;

Mouthfeel: fizzy carbonation sparkling wine like, mild-moderate body, nice balance between sweet malts and hops, light dark fruits linger on the palate; to me it is fairly simple: raisin, pumpernickel bread with a touch of rye grain spice and a light aftertaste. 

To the Point: a nice Pater, pleasing to drink, easy to enjoy, I think I like this better than the Prior 8 which has a cinnamon raisin bread likeness; 

St. Bernardus Tripel: Re-review

St. Bernardus Tripel

Br. St. Bernard

Watou, Belgium

330ml bottle

8% abv

Back in September 2011 I reviewed a big bottle of this Tripel and it was just plain old bad.  Since I just bought a variety pack of 6, 8, 12 and Triple St. Bernardus I guess it is time to do a re-review. 

Take this beer out of your fridge a half hour before you plan to open it. 

Appearance: hazy golden orange body with a nice two finger head.  A little sediment on the bottom of the bottle so, make sure to swirl the bottle with the last inch of ale. 

Aroma: light overall, light fruity, good Belgian sugar and yeast; as the ale warms up the tropical notes start to come into focus, it is reminding me of pineapple/banana cotton candy. 

Flavors: sweet malts and a touch of floral hops; there is a tart lemon/apple bite; the pineapple/banana cotton candy on the nose transfer to the taste;

Mouthfeel: a fine fizzy carbonation feel, medium-full body weight, the tart note controls the sweetness,

To the Point: a very nice Tripel, I’ll take Piraat over this all day.

Nogne O Double IPA: Review

Nogne O

Grimstad, Norway

Nogne-o.com

Collaboration between

Nogne O & Yo-Ho Brewing in Japan

100 IBU

8% abv

1pt .9oz bottle

$9.99 a bottle

This beer has been retired

Appearance: misty-cloudy deep amber body with a two finger creamy looking light tan head that leaves nothing on the glass

Aroma: soft citrus, soft sweet grains, overall delicate

Flavors: soft citrus reminding me of pink grapefruit rind; some soft fruits, pear comes to mind; firm caramel malts and grains; tasty overall

Mouthfeel: decent carbonation to keep it refreshing; medium body; moderate bitterness – I would never guess 100 IBU’s; soft bitterness and earthy on the aftertaste

To the Point: a pleasing IPA; a weak Double; for 9 or 10 bucks a bottle I would spend my time with a real DIPA 

Little Sumpin’: Review

The Lagunitas Brewing Company

Petaluma, California, USA

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale

7.5% abv

64 IBU

$11.89 a six pack

Appearance: deep golden body with a nice two finger white bubbly head that stays around for some time; good sticky lacing on the glass

Aroma: sumpin nice here; tropical and summer fruits that remind me of mango, pineapple, pear, peach, tangerine, hint of grapefruit; touch of fresh wheat; nice touch of floral hops; overall a very attractive nose

Flavors: sumpin super nice here; flavors really follow the nose; nice touch of citrus spice, pleasing bitterness mixed with a little sweet bread;

Mouthfeel: smooth, pleasing, tasty fruit salad lingers on the palate, great interplay with the sweet and bitter notes; wonderful complexity

To the Point: super easy to drink; this is a special ale; must buy; 

Blue Mountain Local Species: Review

Blue Mountain Barrel House

Arrington, Nelson County, Virginia, USA

Bluemountainbarrel.com

Ale aged in bourbon barrels

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$9.99

6.6% abv

24 IBUs

On the cork: best by June 2014

Appearance: copper body; little cloudy; off-white two finger plus head; nice layers of lacing

Aroma: light bready, soft clove, and nothing else

Flavors: soft rye bread, spice, clove like on the back and aftertaste, I keep on sipping and expecting more and nothing, oh how I wanted the oak barrel to come through, uninspiring,

Mouthfeel: fine fizzy feel from the carbonation, light spice, empty on flavor for a barrel aged ale, short aftertaste

To the Point: plain old uninspiring, it was drinkable, I finished the whole bottle and the flavor nor the mouthfeel ever changed.  I won’t buy again. 

Just got to the last 5 ounces or so in the bottle and I swirled the bottle to get some of the sediment off the bottom of the bottle.  It came out in clumps, big white pasty chunks, don’t do this for this beer.  Looked like cheap home brewer guys yeast. Appearance is creamy caramel and the flavor does not improve.  

Hoppin' Mad Trout: Review

Trout River's Hoppin' Mad Trout

Trout River Brewing Company

Troutriverbrewing.com

Lyndonville, Vermont, USA

4.7% abv

Appearance: misty amber with an orangish edge; there is a half finger white head and not much on the lacing front

Aroma: some kind of floral-herbal fruit tea, apricot, and grassy

Flavors: dirty apricot, strange floral-herbal notes, I really don’t care what the other flavors might be for what I taste is strange – the flavors just come together if a very weird dimension. 

Mouthfeel: strange and dirty apricot feel, moderate carbonation, low bitterness, some sweet toasted grains

To the Point: I just … I just … don’t know what to say. The amount of floral in aroma threw me off but, I was interested.  The flavor – just strange.  So, just skip this beer.  

Trout River Chocolate Oatmeal Stout: Review

Trout River Brewing Company

Lyndonville, Vermont, USA

Troutriverbrewing.com

4.9% abv

Appearance: has the consistency of a lager as I am pouring it into my glass.  Black body with a half finger light tan head that leaves a spot of lacing here or there.

Aroma: oh no, sour, sour mash, sour apple mash, nothing else

Flavors: do I really want to drink this.  No, but in the name of science I’ll do it.  Yes, it is … sour!  Sour Stout cool.  But, the is a chocolate oatmeal stout and I was in the mood for a really good one. 

Mouthfeel: lively carbonation, a sparkling wine like carbonation during the first half, thin on flavors, no depth, just sour, light tartness on the aftertaste

To the Point: no chocolate, no oatmeal or grains, no stout,

I think it is a cool sour stout.  I pitched it on the grass.  No date on the bottle but, it had to be old or they just don't know what they are doing there in Vermont.  

Fish Tale Wild Salmon Pale Ale: Review

Fish Brewing Company

Olympia, Washington, USA

Organic

5.5% abv

$12.99 a six pack

Appearance: misty burnt orange body with a one finger egg shell colored head that leave some lacing.

Aroma: very light nose; very light non-descript citrus and fruit; it is more biscuit than anything else; uneventful

Flavors: lightly toasted grains; faint minty-herbal hop; herb biscuit; dust

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation, closer to low; a soft yet strange bitter note; flannel texture; dusty-dirty mineral like aftertaste; the aftertaste does seem to linger – longer than I want it to; the aftertaste makes me want to go brush my teeth; just inside of medium body, the flavors are mild and the dirty aftertaste is medium and the weight feels mild-medium

To the Point: a dirty Pale Ale; you’ve heard of a dirty martini right; to bad I bought a six pack – should have bought a single bottle; organic hell … give me some pesticides; 13 bucks a six pack forget it; save your money; go buy some roundup